Launching device for aeroplanes



June 26, 1923.

1.459.884 E. L. eooom LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES Fil'edJan. 20, 1923 Patented June 26, 1923.

EDWARD L. GOODIN, or COPELAND, ARKANSAS, ASSIGI\TOR or ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE B. M. WILL, or CRABTREE, ARKANSAS.

LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES.

Application filed January 20, 1923. Serial No. 613,926.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. GoomN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Copeland, in the county of Van Buren and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Launching Devices for Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in launching devices for aeroplanes, and more particularly to a device carried by the plane by means of which it may be given a forward impulse for launching the same into the air.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character-which is readily controllable by the operator of the vehicle and which requires minimum attention on the part of the operator in order that he may give the proper attention to the ordinary controls of the plane. A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is extremely simple in its construction and operation and which maybe readily applied to lanes as now constructed. v

still further object of the invention is to provide a spring drum structure having means for preventing rotation of the drum in one direction and a brake for preventing operation of the drum under influence of the spring thereof, the brake and first named means being so constructed that upon release of the brake the first named means is held out of engagement with the drumby said means. i

Other objects and advantages will become apparent throughout the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a plan viewof an aeroplane the launching Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a frame in which is rigidly mounted a shaft 11.

Upon the shaft within the frame a drum 12 is rotatably mounted, said drum having therein a plurality of springs 13 of the clock work .type, one end of the springs being connected to the shaft and the opposite end thereof to the drum. The drum is provided with a flange 14. having formed in one side face thereof beveled gear teeth 15 for coaction with a pinion 16 mounted upon a shaft directed through one side of the frame and having upon its outer end means, as at 17 whereby it may be rotated.

The outeredge of the flange 14 is provided with ratchet teeth 18 having the shoulders thereof facing in the direction of rotation of the drum when driven by the springs 13. The wall of the frame 10 is provided at one side thereof with an extension 19 in substantial alignment with the flange 15 and this extension has pivoted thereto a lever 20 formed at one end with a dog-21 for engaging the ratchet teeth 18 and at the opposite end with a hand portion 22 by means of which it may be shifted about its pivot to withdraw the same from tl e ratchet teeth to permit rotation of the drum. A spring 23 secured to the extension 19 and abutting the pawl end of the lever 20 normally maintains this lever with the pawl thereof in engagement with the ratchet teeth 18. The under surface of the handle end of the lever 20 has formed thereon a shoulder 24 for a purpose presently to appear.

10 and which after'passing'about the flange 25 has its opposite end secured to one end of a bell crank lever 27 the pivot of which is arranged approximately beneath the shoulder 24 of the lever 20. The other arm of the bell crank lever 27 has formed thereon a foot treadle 28 by. means of which it may be depressed to tighten the brake band. When the brake band is fully tightened and has sufficient tension to check rotation of the drum, the end of the bell crank lever engaged by the brake band 26 is aligned with the face 24 of the shoulder 24 of the lever 20 to be received thereby,

' whereby'return movement of the bell crank lever 27 to slacken the brake band is prevented. T his shoulder is of sufficient depth to permit engagement of the ratchet teeth by the pawl 21 and accordingly the drum is held against rotation both by the pawl and brake.

In use, the frame 10 and spring drum is arranged within the fuselage of the aeroplane and has wound thereabout a cable 29, the cable being wound upon the drum 1n a direction to be released thereby when the drum is rotated to tension the springs 13 and accordingly to be wound upon the drum when the-drum is rotated by thesprings. The end of this cable 29 has secured thereto an e e 30 adapted to be placed over a stake 31 placed in the ground and inclining away from the aeroplane to be launched, the cable of course having the ring thereof engaged with the stake when fully extended or when the drum springs are fully tensioned. In "launching the plane, the brake band 26 is tensioned by placing the foot upon the treadle 28 and the handle end- 22 of the lever 20 elevated to withdraw the pawl. The brake 26 is then released, the band engaged end thereof moving forwardly, and the action of the springs causes the,

winding of the cable upon the drum and a consequent forward movement of the aeroplane. The end of the bell crank lever having attached thereto the brake band is of such a length that when moved forwardly to release the brake band, it engages the shoulder 24 and acts asa prop or stay, maintaining the pawl end of the lever 20 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 18, thereby preventlng engagement of the pawl positively. When it is desired to tension the springs, the bell crank lever is engaged with the hand as is the pawl 22 and the pawl is elevated to permit passage of the arm 27 of the lever by the shoulder 24 and until thls arm engages the face 24 of-the shoulder 24. The pawl is then released and is moved by ts spring 23 into engagement with the ratchet teeth 18. 1n the full" releasedpositionso that it applles no friction whatever to the drum tendmg to resist the winding motion.

If desired, means may be provided for controlling the speed of rotation of the drum 12' other than the brake 26. In the present instance this means is shown as comprising a spring. overnor 32 driven from longitudinal shiftable member is shiftedby increased speed, the bell crank lever is rotated upon its ivot in a direction to tension the brake band 26.- I

The brake is likewise held many changes are possible in the construction of my invention without materially departing from the spirit thereof. I accordingly do not limit in self to such specific structure as hereinbefore set forth, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim y 1. In a launching device for aeroplanes, a spring drum carried by the aeroplane and having wound thereon a cable unwound by tensioning of the springs of the drum, a ratchet and pawl means for prevent1ng rotation of the drum in a direction winding the cable thereon, a brake for the drum, an operating mechanism for the brake, an engagement between the brake operating means and said pawl locking the brake operating means against movement when the brake is tensioned.

2. In a launching device for aeroplanes, a spring drum carried by the aeroplane and having wound thereon a cable unwound by tensioning of the springs of the drum, a

ratchet and pawl means for preventing rotation of the drum in a direction winding the cable thereon, a brake for the drum, an operating mechanism for the brake, an engagement between the brake operating means and said pawl locking the brake operating means against movement when the brake is tensioned and preventing engagement of the pawl when thebrake is released, and means other than said brake for controlling the speed of rotationof the drum.

4. In a launching device for aeroplanes, a spring drum carried by the aeroplane and. having wound thereon a cable unwound by tensioning of the springs of the drum, a ratchet and pawl means for preventing rotation of the drumin a direction winding ,the cable thereon, a brake for the drum, an

operating mechanism for the brake, an eng agement between the brake operating means and said pawl locking the brake o eratmg means against movement when tl ie .brake is tensioned or when-the brake is fully released.

5. In a launching device for aeroplanes,

a spring. drum carried by the aeroplane and having wound thereon a cable unwound by tensioning of the springs of the drum, a ratchet and pawl means for preventing rotation of the drum in a direction winding the cable thereon, a brake for the drum, an operating mechanism for the brake, an engagement between the brake operating means and said pawl locking the brake operating means against movement when the 1 brake is tensioned and preventing engagemerit of the pawl when the brake is released, said brake being shiftable to released position permitting engagement of the pawl.v

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ED'WARD L. GOODIN. 

